Dismissing Jim Allister's 'alien culture' remark was 'totally out of order' says England's first Muslim MP

Former long-time Birmingham Labour MP Khalid Mahmood was reacting to remarks made by TUV leader Mr Allister in the House of Commons on Tuesday in the wake of the knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night.

Mr Allister has since said he stands by those remarks.

Referring to the attack, over which a Sudanese immigrant has been charged, Mr Allister had said in Parliament: “What I want to know, and what I know that my constituents want to hear, is what will be done to stop the importation of an alien culture that thinks it is appropriate to try to behead someone within the United Kingdom.”

Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland secretary, had responded: “I am sorry that the honourable and learned gentleman used the words ‘alien culture’; what exactly is he referring to?

“What the British people have had enough of is anyone, from wherever they come and whatever their background, who seeks to commit violence against citizens of the United Kingdom.”

Mr Mahmood, who lost his seat to a pro-Gaza independent in 2024, told GB News that Hilary Benn’s response is “totally out of order”.

He went on to say: “[For] somebody, wherever they have come from, to say that trying to behead somebody is a normal culture, that is absolutely wrong.”

He said the crime in this case was “barbaric, it’s horrid, and it’s not normal for any community, any society, or any peoples of this country – or any other country for that matter”.

Asked about his own comments in the Commons on ‘The World Tonight’ on Radio 4, Mr Allister said: “I think the secretary of state’s response showed just how out of touch he is with the reality if he thinks there’s nothing alien about that.”

The interviewer said the phrase “seems to paint an entire group of people rather than one specific individual”, to which Mr Allister replied: “A culture that thinks it’s ok to cut off someone’s head – that’s alien. Of course it is.”

The interviewer said “I come back to the fact it was a specific individual” who is alleged to have committed the offence.

“If that is a manifestation of his approach to how you should live and behave, then that is a manifestation of a culture that is alien to anyone right-thinking person in this United Kingdom, surely,” said Mr Allister.

He also said that the immigration background of the alleged perpetrator, who travelled from Sudan to France, then France to Dublin, then Dublin to Belfast, “is but a snapshot of what has been happening”.

He said: “This gentleman, he claims to be a refugee, but he passed through the safe country of France, he passed through the safe country of the Republic of Ireland, and he comes to the United Kingdom to demand refugee status.

“That in itself is making a mockery of the very principles of refugee operation which is meant to be it is offered in the first safe country.”

Also on GB News, independent peer and commentator Claire Fox was asked about people who would take offence at the phrase ‘alien culture’.

“Trying to demonise anyone who uses the wrong words is so at odds with the public mood,” she said.

“It’s an insult and a slap across the face to the public isn’t it, because the public are looking at this and they’re outraged, and everyone is saying ‘how dare you use that kind of language, you’re whipping up public anger’.

“It doesn’t need whipping up, mate.

“They’ve just watched the video.

“I mean it’s just ridiculous.”

She went on to add that “everybody has a responsibility to say that is a backward, alien culture… so ‘alien culture’ was well chosen”.

Mr Benn’s response is indicative of “politicians who are not allowing us to have a frank conversation”, she added.

Subsequently in the conservative magazine The Spectator, commentator Brendan O’Neill wrote: “Benn’s comment sums up everything that’s gone wrong in the political class.

“It confirms that the cult of relativism still swirls in establishment circles.

“To the modern left there is no greater thoughtcrime than to make a moral distinction between cultures.

“It is tantamount to heresy in their world to suggest that some cultures enjoy fewer virtues than others.”